OpenAI fires three researchers for violating information-handling policies

OpenAI said Thursday it had fired three employees for mishandling “sensitive information” outside of the established company procedures, the latest sign of growing scrutiny over how artificial intelligence companies handle safety research and confidential data.

“We have parted ways with three individuals for violating our policies on accessing and handling sensitive company information,” an OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement cited by CBS News.

“Our investigation confirmed that these individuals mishandled sensitive information outside established company procedures, violating our policies and breaking the trust essential to our work,” the spokesperson said.

The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the dismissals, said the employees are alleged to have shared confidential company information with an outside organisation involved in AI model evaluations. Bloomberg reported that two of the people let go were safety and alignment researchers and one was a research programme manager.

OpenAI didn’t publicly name the employees, nor did they reveal details about the information in question.

The dismissals come as AI companies are under increasing pressure to improve safeguards around increasingly capable systems. The company has come under recent scrutiny over incidents involving the behaviour of its AI agents, while also expanding its collaboration with outside AI safety groups.

OpenAI said its investigation found a pattern of misconduct in handling research information.